Uttarakhand HC Seeks Centre, State Reply on Felling of 7,000 Trees for Road Project

The Uttarakhand High Court has sought responses from the Centre and the state government on a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging a proposal to fell around 7,000 trees for a road project between Asharodi and Jhajhra in Dehradun.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta and Justice Subhash Upadhyay directed the Centre and the Uttarakhand government to file their replies within three weeks. The petitioner has been allowed two weeks thereafter to submit a rejoinder, with the matter scheduled for further hearing after five weeks.

The PIL was filed by Dehradun-based social activist Renu Paul, who has challenged the National Highways Authority of India's (NHAI) proposal to cut approximately 7,000 trees as part of the road project in the Yamuna Valley under the Gati Shakti Green Project.

The petition alleged that mandatory prior approvals concerning biodiversity and environmental regulations had not been obtained before the project was initiated. It further argued that large-scale tree felling could cause irreversible damage to the region's fragile ecosystem.

According to the plea, the forest area supports more than 300 species of birds and functions as an important buffer zone for elephants. The petition also highlighted the ecological importance of the Asan Barrage, which serves as a major habitat for migratory birds and attracts thousands of birds from various countries each year.

The petitioner contended that extensive tree felling for the proposed highway could adversely affect wildlife habitats, water sources and the ecological balance of the Doon Valley.

The court's proceedings have brought renewed focus on the environmental concerns surrounding infrastructure development in the ecologically sensitive region.